Tampa Bay Buccaneers: What We've Learned Through Week 1 of Preseason

As a good friend and colleague of mine always says, statistics are like bikinis; they show us some things but not all things.

The same can be said for preseason football, especially after just one game. Fans are already jumping to conclusions about rookies, free-agent signings and new coaches, despite most teams having just 60 minutes of preseason football under their belts so far this season.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are no exception, with many fans already concerned about top overall pick Jameis Winston after he struggled in the first few series of last week's loss to the Minnesota Vikings. Issues along the offensive line and on defense are also still present from last year's 2-14 team, which is leading some fans to already assume this year's team will meet a similar fate.

But there are silver linings to point out so far this preseason, as well. The glass is clearly half-full for the Bucs in some ways, such as a promising rookie class and improved depth at multiple positions.

What have we learned about the Bucs so far this preseason? Let's take a look.

Ali Marpet Is the Real Deal

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The Bucs obviously had high hopes for small-school standout Ali Marpet, having traded back into the late second round to grab the offensive lineman out of Hobart College.

But many thought Marpet's transition to the speed of the NFL game would take some time, given that he was coming from such a small program and shifting from left tackle to right guard. Instead, it looks like he is getting comfortable already in his new surroundings, holding his own against the likes of Pro Bowl teammate Gerald McCoy.

On Wednesday, Marpet got the better of McCoy at practice, per Gil Arcia of TheBayCave.com.

The Bucs have a dire need to upgrade their starting right guard spot, and so far, Marpet looks like far and away their best option. Battling McCoy in practice every day seems to have accelerated his learning process, and Marpet looks ready to handle the job.

Fans Need Patience with Jameis Winston

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After a rocky start to his first preseason game, Jameis Winston has already been the recipient of much criticism, with many fans ready to slap the "bust" tag on him after just two quarters of preseason action.

But the No. 1 overall pick is stressing patience with his new fanbase to Steve Duemig of WDAE-AM 620, per JoeBucsFan.com.

"Fans, please don’t panic about one half of football," Winston said. "Please, there’s no reason to. We did some great things and we’re going to build on the positives. Stay with us. Come witness a chance for us to win a game."

Winston completed nine of his 19 pass attempts for 131 yards and an interception in last week's 26-16 loss to the Minnesota Vikings. He struggled early but settled into a rhythm and made a few impressive plays, including capping off a successful two-minute drill with an eight-yard touchdown run.

It's way too early to draw any conclusions on Winston's performance, and Bucs fans should take a deep breath and wait until their new quarterback has at least a few regular-season games under his belt before going into a panic.

Best Players Will Start, Regardless of Money

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When the Bucs signed free agent Bruce Carter to a four-year deal worth more than $20 million, most expected the former Dallas Cowboys linebacker to be locked in as the starter in the middle.

But fourth-round pick Kwon Alexander has stated his case to snatch the starting role away from the veteran with an outstanding training camp so far.

Head coach Lovie Smith said these kinds of promotions happen when you make plays on a consistent basis, according to Scott Smith of Buccaneers.com:

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We've been talking about him for quite a while, really. What happens when you make plays, you get an opportunity to make more plays. We're looking at different combinations. We wanted to see him work with a different group today, and that's what we got. I'm very pleased with what he's done, as a rookie. Rookies have a long way to go still, but he's doing some things to make us notice.

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It's clear the Bucs coaching staff is prepared to put the best players in the starting lineup, regardless of their pay grade, which continues a trend they started by cutting disappointing free agents like Michael Johnson, Anthony Collins and Josh McCown after just one season.

Alexander may be just a rookie mid-round draft pick, but he's already outplaying his veteran counterpart, and the Tampa Bay defense should be better for it.

Tough Battle Brewing for Roster Spots at Receiver

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Depth at receiver was an issue for the Bucs last year, but it doesn't look like it'll be a problem this season, as a tight competition is taking place in training camp throughout the depth chart.

Fifth-round pick Kenny Bell is challenging veteran Louis Murphy for the third receiver spot, while a handful of players are jockeying for position near the bottom of the list of pass-catchers.

According to the Tampa Bay Times, Robert Herron has rebounded from a disappointing rookie season in 2014 to deliver a strong performance in training camp so far, while rookie undrafted free agent Rannell Hall has a made a solid impression of his own.

Special teams ability will be key in determining who makes the final roster at receiver, as well. Sixth-round pick Kaelin Clay is a promising return specialist, while veteran Russell Shepard is as reliable a special teams ace as there is in the NFL.

Tampa Bay's decision-makers will have some tough calls to make with this unit in the coming weeks, but it's a good problem to have for a team that lacks quality depth across most of the roster.

Offensive Line Still a Huge Concern

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Tampa Bay was already struggling to field an effective offensive line unit heading into its first preseason game, but the loss of its best blocker—right tackle Demar Dotson—to a knee injury has left the picture up front even more clouded.

The Bucs quickly signed veteran free agent Gosder Cherilus to replace Dotson while he's out of commission and are handing him Dotson's starting job, per Pat Yasinskas of ESPN.com. But there are more issues with this group that still need to be worked out.

While veterans Logan Mankins and Evan Smith look poised to bounce back from disappointing 2014 seasons, the team is banking on rookie second-rounder Donovan Smith and 2014 fifth-round pick Kevin Pamphile to compete for the starting left tackle spot.

Pamphile has shown improvement but still has a long way to go, while Smith is raw and will take time to develop before he's ready to protect Jameis Winston's blind side on a full-time basis.

Garrett Gilkey has been given a chance to win the starting right guard spot, but rookie Ali Marpet has looked impressive and should easily beat him out. Gilkey's reps as a backup to Smith at center have already drawn the ire of head coach Lovie Smith, per Greg Auman of the Tampa Bay Times.

There are definitely some bright spots and potential with this group but still far too many concerns for Bucs fans to feel comfortable just yet.